10 Islan d s THE DAILY HERALD, Saturday, June 16, 2018

ST. EUSTATIUS--The EZ-Air Rene Winkel is very visits have to be cancelled board of Pension Fund experienced in regional avi- and doing business…in Caribbean Netherlands ation. He previously flew Curaçao or has be- (PCN) has decided, after as a captain for Winair and come nearly impossible,” a preparatory period of Antillean ALM. says Linkels. “It is also im- almost 18 months, to in- With Medicair, he has been portant for St. Eustatius to vest in the purchase of an carrying out ambulance have a direct and reliable aircraft for EZ-Air. flights between connection with Bonaire. With the loan to Bonaire- and Colombia since 2000. Winkel is also positive based Medicair NV, by EZ-Air is not new to the about the collaboration means of PCN’s Participa- islands either. In the past, with PCN and PMCN. “We tion Company Caribbean Winkel has been execut- have always held construc- Netherlands (PMCN), two ing flights between Bonaire tive discussions with the Beechcraft 1900D aircraft and Curaçao for several board of PCN and they un- will shortly be purchased years with two Britten-Nor- derstood where we wanted for regional flights, includ- Signing the agreement for the purchase of an aircraft for EZ-Air are, from left: Vice Presi- man aircraft. to go with our plans.” ing flights from Bonaire to dent of Pension Fund Caribbean Netherlands (PCN) Valdemar Marcha, PCN president PCN had various consid- PCN will, as part of the St. Eustatius. Harald Linkels, Chief Executive Officer of EZ-Air Rene Winkel and EZ-Air consultant erations to invest in EZ- agreement, name two per- In addition, the required Percy Lauffer. Air. “First, it must be said sons in the Supervisory working capital is also pro- that this is a solid business Board of EZ-Air, which will vided for the start-up of the case,” says PCN chairman consist of three persons. As EZ-Air operation, PCN Harald Linkels. “Over the a result, PCN will be able to stated. The aircraft in ques- past few months, we have closely monitor the way in tion were, until recently, worked intensively with the which EZ-Air is managed used for flight operations EZ-Air team and together and will participate in im- on behalf of Air Canada we have looked at the type portant company decisions. Express. of aircraft, the routes that “On the PCN board we The aircraft, with 19 seats can be served and the com- have Valdemar Marcha, each, will be used under mercial plan. From the very who as former ALM direc- the brand name EZ-Air start we noticed in a posi- tor, has a huge experience for flights between Aruba, tive sense the solidity and in the field of aviation and Bonaire and Curaçao; for the level of detail in the airline management, says flights between Bonaire business plan,” says Lin- Linkels. and Statia; and for flights The EZ-Air Beechcraft 1900D aircraft. kels. According to Linkels, PCN to Colombia. In addition, Linkels says with its investment will help The aircraft have been sufficient comfort. The construction of the ma- several requirements for PCN mainly wants to in- create a stable and solid specially selected for their Beechcraft planes have a chines. The relatively long the aircraft, such as a toilet vest locally in matters that company that will finally ability to fly directly to vari- pressurized cabin, and pas- distances, for example on and reasonable baggage ca- benefit the islands and resi- bring reliable and afford- ous destinations within an sengers can walk upright in the route between Bonaire pacity. dents. “Although it is regu- able flights to the islands. acceptable time and with the cabin due to the high and Statia, brought about Director of Medicair and larly stated that aviation is The purchased airplanes a risky industry, it is also a cannot be put into service fact that we as islands can’t immediately. “The aircraft do without aviation,” says will soon be flown from Linkels. Canada to Miami for the The PCN chairman says installation of some instru- --With an national carrier, the subsid- service led us to evaluate will provide tourists from it is extremely sour that ev- ments necessary for the increase from four to seven iary of Copa Holdings and every route and examine the continent more chances ery time the islands in the certification of the aircraft weekly flights from Panama member of the global Star the possibility of increas- to experience our island. region pick the bitter fruits in Curaçao,” says Winkel. to Curaçao, Alliance network will now ing flight frequency. We see With our sublimely beau- of the malaise in aviation in EZ Air is currently still un- say it looks forward to fos- operate daily flights to the potential in this market as tiful beaches, picturesque Curaçao. “As soon as some- dergoing the certification tering stronger business island as of July 17, with demand has increased over scenery and tropical weath- thing goes wrong there, as process in Curaçao. Winkel and commercial ties be- convenient schedules and this past year.” er, Curaçao is the perfect in the case of ALM, DCA, says the airline gets “good tween these destinations greater connectivity with The flights depart from destination for the whole DAE and now , cooperation” from Cura- and the rest of the Ameri- the rest of the continent. Panama at 9:13am and land family to relax. Undoubt- this has dramatic conse- çao Civil Aviation Author- cas. CEO Pedro Heilbron: in Curaçao at 12:18 pm (lo- edly, this is an opportunity quences…People can’t ity (CCAA). Offering more flight op- “We are constantly seek- cal time). The return leg to exalt the virtues of our leave the island, doctor tions through its Hub of ing opportunities to offer leaves at 1:18pm and ar- country brand.” the Americas in Panama our passengers more flight rives at 2:30pm (local time). Copa currently operates City than any other inter- options. This dedication to “With these new flights in an average of 350 daily the Americas and the Ca- flights through the Hub ribbean,” Heilbron added, of the Americas, founded “passengers who want to in 1992 and located at the visit these important tourist Tocumen International ST. EUSTATIUS--During its fifth meeting, held Wednes- destinations will find that Airport. Thanks to its ex- day at Gertrude Judson Bicentennial Public Library, the they have more seats and tensive network of routes St. Eustatius Community Advisory Board made a list of more dates to choose from. Tocumen is considered the all the topics discussed and the measures to be taken. Thanks to the connectiv- airport with the most in- The Board discussed miscellaneous subjects, such as im- ity that we offer through ternational destinations in provement of the notary services on the island, prepara- the Hub of the Americas, Latin America. tion for the hurricane season and disaster management. there’s no question that In addition, Copa was The problems with car wrecks, roaming animals and the this expanded service will recognised in the past five Coralita vine were also discussed, as well as undivided encourage more economic years by FlightStats as properties and police enforcement. In all these matters activity, as well as stronger “The most on-time airline the Board made suggestions on how to deal with these business and trade ties be- in Latin America”, and by topics. tween Curaçao and the rest the Official Airline Guide Government Commissioners Mike Franco and Mervyn of the Americas.” of London as “The fourth Stegers said they would “certainly incorporate” the sug- According to Curaçao most on-time airline in the gestions and advice in policymaking. Tourist Bureau (CTB) rep- world” and the “most on- During its next meeting, the Advisory Board will discuss resentative Andre Rojer time in Latin America.” improvements in Statia’s infrastructure. A date for this “these additional flights meeting still needs to be set.